Freemen's Guild 'Apprentice of the Year' Awards 2023
Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training is supporting the City of Coventry Freemen’s Guild with their Apprentice of the Year 2023 celebrations. The purpose of the Guild Awards is to celebrate the achievements of local people who are either apprentices or trainees currently undertaking a contracted training programme linked to a recognised career path. The Apprentice of the Year competition has been running successfully since 2005.
The Freemen’s Guild is specifically seeking two Apprentices of the Year winners—one in the small/medium employer category (up to 200 employees) and one in the large employer category (over 200 employees). Each Apprentice of the Year will be presented with a £1000 cash prize along with a trophy. Furthermore, the companies or organisations sponsoring the winners and their training providers will also be awarded trophies. Additionally, there will be an Endeavour Award recipient recognized for their exceptional efforts in overcoming significant challenges in their life or going above and beyond to assist others. The remaining finalists will be acknowledged with a trophy and a £100 prize.
Read more below about Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training’s four exceptional apprentices that have been put forward.
Name: Prasanna Velayuthum
Position: Operations/Departmental Manager level 5
Employed by: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
Gesture of goodwill: Prasanna is a proactive member of his community, acting as a committee member in Rugby for the Tamil Sangam (RTS) which is a for non-profit organisation run by volunteers.
Our first apprentice that has been put forward for Apprentice of the Year title is Prasanna who is a dedicated individual who works in a complex managerial role within the NHS. Having started his apprenticeship during the pandemic, Prasanna has faced multiple challenges to juggle a heavy workload whilst being eager to learn new management techniques through his off the job training where he has studied (and achieved) the Institute for Leadership and Management Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management. Furthermore, with English as a second language, he has shown great tenacity and commitment to achieve Functional Skills English level 2 which he found really challenging but did not give up which is testament to his strength of character.
As a manager within the NHS, Prasanna leads operations, manages projects and people where excellent communication is a prerequisite as well as relationship building. Through his apprenticeship Prasanna has flourished, embracing every opportunity to learn and embed new skills to the benefit of his role, for example re-modelling the induction of new staff to aid retention. Furthermore, Prasanna is an important member of his community going out of his way to support the well-being of others, including organising well-being events, cricket matches and health checks.
Name: Michael Hand
Position: Adult Care Worker Level 2
Employed by: Royal British Legion
Gesture of goodwill: Ensuring individuals have opportunity, access, and equality whether that is through his charitable work or as an adult care worker.
Our second apprentice that has been put forward is Michael who is an adult care assistant at Galanos House and provides outstanding personal care to residents, some of whom are living with dementia. Michael joined Galanos House, initially as a volunteer, after working as a DCI for the National Crime Agency for 28 years. Michael found the change in career hugely rewarding, having an opportunity to enhance the quality of life of service users. The apprenticeship journey has enabled him to gain new skills in a completely different context, especially the work with residents with dementia and complex care needs.
Michael is an amazing communicator, making time for each service user, ensuring they receive excellent social interaction and stimulation through hobbies and activities and creating a real sense of community which is critical for vulnerable people. He goes beyond what is expected to ensure people receive the best person-centred care, upholding peoples’ dignity and truly understands each person as an individual, engaging with their families, providing re-assurance.
Name: Niall Smith
Position: Early Years Practitioner Level 2
Employed by: Beatle Woods Nursery
Gesture of goodwill: Niall enthusiastically encourages others to challenge themselves and participate in activities to develop valuable life skills as he is a lifeguard and scout leader outside of work.
Our third apprentice is Niall, who is an inspirational role model who has developed a range of strategies to overcome additional learning needs to develop a career path in children’s care. Despite having autism, Niall is currently making a fantastic contribution to the early years’ experience of children within his unique setting of a woodland nursery. He has embraced every opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge, effectively applying theory into practice and demonstrating full commitment to his apprenticeship with a continuous positive attitude and enthusiasm to improve.
With a natural flair in child communication, Niall supports their play with well thought out activities and provides personal care, particularly around safeguarding and health and safety which are so important to ensure a happy and positive environment. He has also taken on additional responsibilities, completing site checks before children enter the camp and his level of confidence has soared. Niall has built his social communication and interaction skills, including engaging with parents.
Name: Abigail Gumery
Position: Accounts Assistant Level 2
Employed by: The Small Peice Trust
Gesture of goodwill: Volunteering at her local park to help give back to her community.
Our fourth apprentice is Abi who has impressed Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training with her work ethic and academic achievement from the start. Her exam passes are high, and she is proactive with completing her portfolio of evidence. She has a bright future ahead of her in accounting and is described as one of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s best apprentices. Additionally, Abi works for a charitable trust, who have recognised her excellence in the workplace with internal awards. She has been nominated for a ‘BEST’ award on three occasions. These are held quarterly where people across the company are nominated for Boldness, Excellence, Safety or Togetherness awards and each quarter a ceremony is held in a team meeting to decide which staff have won the prize of £100 for their efforts. During the most recent BEST awards Abi was one of four that won an award!
Abi is also involved in her community with sport, she gives blood, and she is active in promoting the aims of the charity she works for, attending the workshops the charity runs as well as performing her accounting role. In her personal life, she has overcome significant challenges and used these as a springboard to raise money for charity. Abi is intelligent, kind, polite, ambitious, well-organised and contributes positively to society in a variety of ways.